Full Frame Glass
FESony E278ZNikon Z141RFCanon RF96

Sony E-mount lenses

  • 7Artisans
  • Laowa
  • Samyang (Rokinon)
  • Sigma
  • Sirui
  • Sony
  • Tamron
  • Viltrox
  • Voigtländer
  • Zeiss
  • Ultra-Wide
  • Wide
  • Standard
  • Short Telephoto
  • Telephoto
  • Super-Telephoto
  • Macro

Nikon Z-mount lenses

  • 7Artisans
  • Laowa
  • Nikon
  • Samyang (Rokinon)
  • Sirui
  • Tamron
  • Viltrox
  • Voigtländer
  • Ultra-Wide
  • Wide
  • Standard
  • Short Telephoto
  • Telephoto
  • Super-Telephoto
  • Macro

Canon RF-mount lenses

  • 7Artisans
  • Canon
  • Laowa
  • Samyang (Rokinon)
  • Viltrox
  • Voigtländer
  • Ultra-Wide
  • Wide
  • Standard
  • Short Telephoto
  • Telephoto
  • Super-Telephoto
  • Macro

Full Frame Glass

Native full-frame mirrorless lenses only: no crop lenses, no adapted glass. Specifications, MTF charts and product images come from manufacturer publications and are credited on each page.

  • About & methodology
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Contact
  • © Full Frame Glass
Register/Nikon Z-mount/Nikon/Short Telephoto
NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S — Three-quarter front view
Three-quarter front view© Nikon Corporation
NikonS-Line

NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S

Z · PRIME
85mm
APERTURE
1:1.8
AFWR

Launch MSRP

$800
Weight
470g
Filter
⌀67mm
Min focus
0.80m
Max mag.
0.12×
Formula
12E / 8G
Released
2019
AlternativesCompare with…
01

Specification sheet

Optical construction

12
Elements
8
Groups
2 LD · 0 ASPH
9 rounded blades
  • 2x ED
  • Nano Crystal Coat
Aperture range
f/1.8 — f/16

Physical & ergonomics

S-LINE
Weight
470g
⌀ × length
75.0 × 99.0mm
Filter
⌀67mm
Weather sealed
Yes
Aperture ring
No

Autofocus actuator

STM, multi-focusing
Autofocus
Stabilisation
Body IBIS
Teleconverter
Not supported
AF speed score
8.6 / 10

Close-up performance

Min focus distance
0.80m
Max magnification
0.12× (1:8.3)
0.12×
0×0.25×0.5× half macro1.0× macro
02

Optical character

The 85mm f/1.8 S is the sensible portrait lens of the Z line: 470g, 67mm filters and sharp from f/1.8. Twelve elements including two ED elements keep longitudinal colour fringing low, and Nikon tuned the design for smooth bokeh edges and good peripheral illumination wide open.

A multi-focusing system with stepping motors keeps the focal plane sharp at close range and focuses quickly and silently, which suits video as well as stills. The barrel is plain and light, with a control ring, an A/M switch and dust and drip resistant construction.

Reviewer consensus

Reviewers find it very sharp across the frame from f/1.8, sharper at the edges than Nikon's older F-mount 85mm f/1.4 lenses, with negligible distortion and well-controlled LoCA. Autofocus is fast, quiet and accurate, and flare resistance is good.

The criticisms are mild: the bokeh is pleasant but not as soft as f/1.4 and f/1.2 designs, highlights take on a cat's-eye shape toward the corners wide open, and the polycarbonate barrel feels less premium than the price class might suggest.

Owner sentiment

Owners call it one of the best-value lenses in the Z system and a natural first portrait prime. They like how light it is for all-day events and how reliably it locks on with Eye-AF.

Complaints are few. Some wish for more background blur or a closer minimum focus than 0.8m, and a handful mention the plain styling and the lack of an L-Fn button.

03

Strengths, weaknesses & performance

Strengths

  • +Sharp corner to corner from f/1.8
  • +Only 470g
  • +Fast, quiet multi-focusing AF
  • +Low LoCA (2 ED elements)
  • +Weather resistant

Weaknesses

  • −Bokeh less creamy than f/1.2-1.4 lenses
  • −Cat's-eye highlights toward corners wide open
  • −Plain plastic barrel

Six-axis rating

SHARPBOKEHAFFLAREBUILDVALUE
Sharpness
9.0
Bokeh Rendering
8.3
Autofocus Speed
8.6
Flare Resistance
8.4
Build / Sealing
8.0
Value / Size
9.0

Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.

04

Technical specifications

Optics
MountNikon Z (FX) · full frame
Focal length85mm
CategoryShort Telephoto
Maximum aperturef/1.8
Minimum aperturef/16
Construction12 elements in 8 groups
Special elements2x ED · Nano Crystal Coat
Aperture blades9
Focus
Focus typeAutofocus
DriveSTM, multi-focusing
Minimum focus0.80m
Max magnification0.12×
StabilisationNone (uses body IBIS)
TeleconvertersNot supported
Body
Weight470g
Diameter × length75.0 × 99.0mm
Filter thread⌀67mm
Weather sealingYes
Aperture ringNo
De-clickable apertureNo
Release year2019
Launch MSRP$800 USD
05

Sources

Specifications

  • imaging.nikon.com/imaging/lineup/lens/z-mount/z_85mmf18s/
  • nikon.com/news/2019/0731_lens_01.htm
  • photographyblog.com/news/nikkor_z_85mm_f_1_8_s_specs_price_availability
  • dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikkor/Nikon-NIKKOR-Z-85mm-F18-S-mounted-on-Nikon-Z7
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_Z-mount
06

Similar focal length alternatives

  • VSNIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs AF 85mm F1.8 (Nikon Z)
  • VSNIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)
  • VSNIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
  • 7Artisans

    AF 85mm F1.8 (Nikon Z)

    7Artisans AF 85mm F1.8 (Nikon Z)
    85mmF1.8
    WT
    452g
    FLT
    ⌀62mm
    MFD
    0.80m
    MSRP
    $299
    AFRING·DC
  • Laowa

    85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)

    Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)
    85mmF5.6
    WT
    314g
    FLT
    ⌀46mm
    MFD
    0.16m
    MSRP
    $449
    MFRING
  • NikonS-Line

    NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S

    NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
    85mmF1.2
    WT
    1,160g
    FLT
    ⌀82mm
    MFD
    0.85m
    MSRP
    $2,800
    AFWR